Unlike in previous versions of Windows, there is a nifty feature in Windows 10 to help users stop Windows 10 from automatically rebooting PC to finish installing updates. That is, you can stop Windows 10 from automatically restarting when you’re using it by properly configuring active hours.

Use Active hours to stop Windows 10 from auto restart to install updates

Active Hours is nothing but the time of the day when you don’t want Windows 10 to automatically restart to installing updates. The Active Hours feature allows you set Active hours up to 18 hours (12 hours in Anniversary Update and prior builds). For instance, if you set active hours from 6 AM to 11PM, Windows 10 will not restart your PC during that period to finish installing updates.

And if in case, you’re using your PC outside active hours, Windows 10 will display a notification before restarting your PC so that you can save your work, if any.

Lastly, you can navigate to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update to check if there is a scheduled restart outside of active hours. And if you want to install an update during active hours, click the Restart now button.

Set Active hours in Windows 10

Here is how to set Active hours in Windows 10 to stop Windows 10 from automatically restring your PC to finish installing updates during your Active hours.

For instance, if you don’t want Windows 10 to restart between 8 AM and 9 PM, choose 9 as start time and 21 as end time.

And if Windows 10 has installed update(s) and a restart is scheduled to complete installing the update, you can use Windows Update restart options to temporarily override active hours and schedule a custom time to finish installing pending update(s).